This is a successful federation and every child plays their part in making it so. We aim for an environment which enables and encourages all pupils to achieve their potential and aspire to excellence.

For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and every child should be at school, on time, every day the school is open unless they have an unavoidable reason to be absent. 

Government research shows a direct link between attendance and attainment and good attenders also make better progress socially, learn to work with others, and are better prepared for the transition to secondary school and, eventually, higher education, training and employment.

Our attendance target this year is 96%, but all pupils should strive to achieve 100% attendance if they can.

Absences

If your child is going to be absent, parents must inform school as soon as possible and at the latest by 9.15 am on the first day of absence by calling school on 0152465880

Every half-day absence from school is classified by the school as either authorised or unauthorised. This is why information about the cause of any absence is always required from parents/carers. As a school, we will always work with parents (and other agencies, as appropriate) to understand the reasons underlying absence.

Authorised absences

Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason like illness, medical/dental appointments which unavoidably fall in school time, emergencies or other unavoidable causes.

Unauthorised absences 

Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable. If school has followed its attendance procedures and a pupil continues to have unauthorised absences, the school may see seek advice from the local authority School Attendance Support Team or request legal interventions from the School Attendance Legal Team. Examples of unauthorised absences are:

• Parents/carers keeping children off school unnecessarily.
• Truancy during the school day.
• Absences which are not explained satisfactorily.
• Children who arrive at school after the register has closed.
• Days off for shopping, birthdays or looking after other children.
• Day trips and holidays in term time which have not been agreed by the head teacher.
• Days that exceed the amount of leave agreed by the head teacher.

It is the head teacher’s responsibility to decide if an absence is authorised or unauthorised. Hence, school will request further evidence from parents before an absence is authorised. This may be in the form of a prescription, appointment card or similar. Parents should not ask their doctor (GP) to provide “sick notes” to excuse absence.

Leave during term time- meet parents and complete form

By law, maintained schools cannot authorise any leave in term time other than in exceptional circumstances. Taking a child out of school in term time will affect their education and progress as much as any other absence. If leave is being requested for a holiday or extended leave abroad, approval should be obtained from the head teacher at least a month before making any bookings.

Leave of absence in term time will not be granted unless:

• a request for leave has been made in advance by a parent with whom the pupil normally resides (see forms below), and
• the head teacher considers that leave of absence should be granted due to the exceptional circumstances relating to the request.

Due to the need to evidence exceptional circumstances, parents are advised to provide school with any relevant information regarding their request at the point of application if they believe the circumstances are exceptional.

In considering the request school will also consider other factors such as:

• The timing of the requested leave, eg when a pupil is just starting at school or during assessment periods, such as SATs.
• A pupil’s attendance record already includes unauthorised absence.
• Attendance is already a concern, or could become a concern, as a result of taking leave.
• Other periods of leave which the pupil may have had, either during the current or previous academic year.

Any period of leave taken without the agreement of the school, or in excess of that agreed, will be classed as unauthorised and may attract legal sanctions such as a penalty notice.

In certain circumstances, as outlined in regulation, parents risk losing their child’s place on the school roll if leave is taken and the criteria governing removal from roll are met.

Religious absence

School will authorise one day of absence per religious festival, eg Eid, and this will be marked as code R in the register. We do not need a leave request form to be completed for this, however, we ask that parents must inform the school office. The day authorised will be that set aside by the religious body of which the parent is a member.